Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries) (Paperback)

by Michio Kaku (Author) "A journalist once asked Albert Einstein, the greatest scientific genius since Isaac Newton, to explain his formula for success..." (more)
Key Phrases: rocket twin, aether wind, aether theory, Nobel Prize, New York, Max Planck (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American
Thanks to Kaku's insight (he is a theoretical physicist) and his flair for explaining dense scientific concepts (he is a best-selling author), this brief book weaves Einstein's life and work into a seamless, hard-to-put-down narrative. The organizing metaphor is how Einstein thought in terms of simple physical pictures--speeding trains, falling elevators, moving clocks. Excellent for the neophyte or readers who want to refresh their knowledge about Einstein without being talked down to or bored.

Editors of Scientific American --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Recent popular works about Einstein have magnified select details of his life, such as his tempestuous marriage to Mileva Maric (Einstein in Love, by Dennis Overbye, 2000) or his FBI file (The Einstein File, by Fred Jerome [BKL Ap 1 03]). Such topics are reduced to paragraphs in Kaku's presentation, for Einstein's life ranks second to his science here. Accordingly, Kaku divides his narrative into the three great segments of Einstein's scientific arc: the theory of special relativity in 1905; the theory of general relativity in 1916; and the balance of Einstein's intellectual life. The latter was spent searching for a unified field theory and saw the rise of his phenomenal celebrity, which his peers regarded as a dubious dissipation of genius. However, such lamentations were premature, according to Kaku, who explicates recent discoveries that show Einstein was only audaciously ahead of his scientific time, as usual. An expert in quantum mechanics and string theory, Kaku is an equally able popular writer, vividly evoking the pictorial imagination behind Einstein's revolutionary thinking. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (May 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393327000
• ISBN-13: 978-0393327007
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this will blow your mind, January 28, 2005

By	T. Scherff (Pebble Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries) (Hardcover)

as you can see from my title, i am a child of the 60's. einstein died when i was 4. i am of average intelligence, with a college degree in english. math and science were never my favorite subjects, nor was i very good at them.

with all that in mind, i was blown away by this book. it covers the biography of eistein only minimally and spends the majority of its fast paced, easy reading 235 pages talking about the discoveries of einstein and their impact on the sceintific community.

i won't try to improve on what the author does so well, and that is explain in simple terms the concepts of einstein. to be perfectly honest, i'm still not sure of them all exactly nor what they portend.

what further amazed me is how this genius thinks. he thought in pictures. "what if i traveled as fast as the speed of light, what would it look like?" "why when i fall do i become weightless?" his failure at the end of his life to solve his unified field theory was because he couldn't put it into a picture.

i always go back to the old movie "the paper chase". in it the harvard professor played by john houseman tells his students that it is his job to teach them how to think. i firmly believe that that is what the education system needs to do. teach people how to think. had i been taught physics with the concepts in this book, i would not have dreaded every minute i spent in that course.

read, enjoy, wonder! a great trip through an amazing mind.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You don't have to be an "Einstein" to understand Einstein!!, November 4, 2004

By	Stephen Pletko "Uncle Stevie" (London, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries) (Hardcover)

+++++

This book, by Dr. Michio Kaku, deals with three main themes that are intertwined together:

(1)The life of Dr. Albert Einstein (March 1879 to April 1955)
(2)The all-important science of Einstein
(3)The important scientific contributions of others and some insight into their lives.

This slim book contains three parts each made up of three surprisingly easy-to-read chapters. Below I will give the title of each chapter (not necessarily the same as the book's) and what I consider to be the highlights of each chapter. For chapter nine, I will provide a overview only.

Part I:

(1) Physics before Einstein

The scientific discoveries of Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell.

(2) The Early Years of Einstein

Einstein in school; Einstein and religion; Einstein's introduction to science, mathematics, and philosophy; his thinking; his loves; Einstein and authority; Einstein begins working for a living; his marriage.

(3) Special Relativity and the "Miracle Year of 1905"

Einstein's first thought picture; two simple principles by Einstein that "mark the most profound insights into the nature of the universe since Newton's work;" his famous equation; Einstein explains the photoelectric effect; he gives the first experimental proof of the existence of atoms; Einstein receives his Ph.D.: Einstein's guiding principle in physics; Experimental evidence confirms some of Einstein's ideas; Einstein becomes a professor of physics; the famous "twin paradox;" his marriage begins to "unravel;" Einstein meets his second love.

Part II:

(4) General Relativity (1915)

The concept of free fall; the difference between Newton's and Einstein's thinking; Einstein's second thought picture; Euclidian or flat-surface geometry versus non-Euclidian or curved-surface geometry; Einstein explains what causes gravity; Einstein focuses on three experiments that would eventually prove his ideas concerning the geometry of space and gravity; an outbreak of war; Einstein saves a close friend from execution; he suffers a breakdown; Einstein marries again.

(5) Einstein Becomes Famous

A solar eclipse of 1919 confirms Einstein's theory of gravity; he goes from professor of physics to a world figure, "a worthy successor to Isaac Newton;" Einstein's fame attracts many detractors; Einstein decides to promote other causes such as peace; he wins the Nobel Prize; Einstein visits the United States; his thoughts on philosophy and religion.

(6) Einstein's Universe

Einstein's static and finite universe; he introduces a "fudge factor" (cosmological constant) in his theory of general relativity; Edwin Hubble's discoveries "shake the foundations of astronomy"; Einstein's "greatest blunder of his life;" general relativity introduces unexpected concepts such as the expanding universe, the "big bang," black holes, neutron stars, gravity waves, and Einstein lenses & rings.

Part III:

(7) Unification and Quantum theory (1925)

Einstein begins work on the unified field theory (unifies his theory of gravity and the theory of electromagnetism) - this theory is also known as the "theory of everything;" marble versus wood; reformulation of Einstein's general relativity into five dimensions (four of space and one of time); problem: Einstein has no guiding thought picture to show him the way to develop a unified field theory; physicists become preoccupied with quantum theory or quantum mechanics; the dual nature of light; a famous wave equation; antimatter; the uncertainty principle; the historic Bohr-Einstein debate; a famous physicist's cat; Einstein's EPR experiment; wormholes.

(8) War, Peace, Death, and an Unfinished Theory

In December 1932, Einstein and some of his scientific colleagues leave Germany for good; Einstein goes to the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton in the U.S.; Einstein's second wife dies and he is devastated; the atomic bomb in theory; neutron discovered (1932); nuclear fission of uranium (1938); verification of Einstein's famous equation; worry that the Germans would be the first to develop the atomic bomb; historic letter (signed by Einstein) given to President Roosevelt; the secret Manhattan Project; Einstein not chosen for this project since he "could not be trusted;" first bomb detonated July 1945; Einstein makes the cover of "Time" (1946); Einstein becomes chairman of the first major anti-nuclear organization; Einstein continues work on the unified field theory; time machines; Einstein's first wife and some friends die; Einstein dies (1955); unification field theory unfinished.

(9) Einstein's Legacy: This chapter is a truly fascinating one. Kaku explains:

"[S]cientific developments in the last few decades have given us an entirely new look into Einstein's legacy. Because his work was so fundamental...his impact continues to reverberate throughout physics...[C]rumbs that have tumbled off Einstein's plate are now winning Nobel Prizes for other scientists...This chapter discusses new developments in three areas where Einstein's enduring legacy continues to dominate the world of physics: the quantum theory, general relativity and cosmology, and the unified field theory."

This book reads like a novel. Considering the subject matter, I think being able to say this makes this book an extraordinary achievement. As well, this book contains no equations (except Einstein's famous equation). Kaku's main narrative is easy to read. He incorporates into the main narrative the actual words used by Einstein and others. I especially enjoyed Kaku's parenthetical statements he made throughout the book.

I'm not sure why but this book has no index. (A name index listing all the scientists and Nobel Prize winners would also have been an asset). Even though this is not absolutely necessary, it helps if you want to look up something quick. Also, there are no diagrams or pictures in this book. Again, these are not absolutely needed since the narrative is so clearly written.

Finally, I was surprised that there was no mention of the chemical element named after Einstein. It's called Einsteinium (symbol Es).

In conclusion, this book interweaves the story of Albert Einstein's scientific insights with his personal and political life. If you want a comprehensible tour of one of the most creative minds of the twentieth century, then this is the book to get!!

(first published 2004; preface; acknowledgements; 9 chapters; main narrative of 210 pages; (foot)notes; bibliography)

+++++

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Concise Review of Einstein's Life and Work, April 30, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time (Great Discoveries) (Hardcover)

There are many Einstein biographies out there, and I've read a number of them. In my opinion, this is one of the most concise and readable ones. The writing is clear and engaging, thus making the book difficult to put down. Einstein's theories are clearly explained for anyone to understand, amidst the main highlights of his life and times. I recommend this book to a wide audience, from science buffs to Einstein fans to anyone wanting to understand what is was that made Einstein so famous, and why.